What are your biggest concerns while fishing offshore?

[Salty]

About the same for me as others have posted and any combination of them:

-Ignorant/Arrogant boaters
-Unexpected bad weather, especially fog+boaters
-Hull failure/sinking
-Landlord/Taxman/Grey Suits

Been in some very sketchy situations offshore in the boat, but the worst so far in a kayak was while at Dana Point, fishing solo about 5+ miles out chasing a massive cloud of diving birds. Payed more attention the the fishing than the weather changing around. Wind had shifted offshore with strong gusts. The swell and wind chop got huge and was coming from mixed directions like a washing machine. The part that made it really sink in was almost getting hit by a sailboat because the swell was so big, I was completely hidden in the trough, even with flag and rods up. Took almost 3 hours using the pedal drive and paddles together to get back to the harbor. Was exhausted, soaked, sunburnt and crusty as hell.

Another sketchy moment was when the rudder line on my Passport 12 broke outside the harbor wall at DP making me spin in portside circles as some significant swell pushed me closer to the rocks. That kayak does not have a retractable rudder control and I couldn't safely reach it from the topside. Fortunately I was able to get my friend on the radio to help pull the rudder up for me. Otherwise, I'd have had to get wet... I was very close to the rocks to begin with, so that could have gotten dangerous real quick.

Stay safe out there!

[ctfphoto]

Wind kills more kayakers than anything else.

Beware of the wind

[SoCalEDC]

Originally Posted by Salty

using the pedal drive and paddles together

Lol. 4x4 yakkin

[JohnMckroidJr]

Derelict big boaters are the greatest danger to smaller vessels in my area. Some of them have their stereo blasting and are just not paying attention, others are going out of their way to steer straight at kayakers and leave them a big wake to deal with. When I see one headed my way, I always make it a point to turn on the GoPro camera for documentation. If the boater sees this, they often veer off. There have been a couple of close incidents that became viral videos and subsequently, the large vessel operators received some fall out that will make it less likely to occur again.

Originally Posted by Salty

Thank you @qualifiedcaptain, right?? And it's true, my less ocean-oriented friends and family always ask me if I'm afraid of sharks when I'm so far offshore in just a small kayak. The threat of sharks rarely crosses my mind out there. But an idiot at the helm of a dual outboard center console is always terrifying...

Yes sir, USCG Lic. Master, Unlimited tonnage any ocean. I spent 3 decades navigating ships to avoid those pesky (15-150ft) smaller targets on or off the radar. Sometimes it's easier to make a big course change to go around a busy area. Other times(like in places like the yellow sea) it's a floating city of fishing boats. No going around it -- hand steering and standby engines the entire watch.

Like your Non-salty friends, mine unfamiliar with the ocean think of sharks as the biggest fear.

Although I have had some aggressive shark encounters, and one very humbling visit by a Hammerhead with a girth much bigger than my kayak, Irresponsible boaters remain my biggest concern. According to google, about 600 deaths a year with the biggest contributing factors being
1.Improper lookout
2.Excessive speed
3.Operator inattention
4.Operator inexperience
5.Alcohol use

About 400 of those deaths are drownings, and 80 percent of those are because they were not wearing a lifejacket. A good reminder to always wear your lifejacket.

[Gflann]

Capsizing?
-Kind of goes with weather. Everyone on here has probably spooked themselves once on being offshore and it getting unexpectedly snotty. On the way in I found semi slouching in my seat as I pedaled, right hand on the tiller and left hand grabbing the left side of my seat rail kept me as stable as possible navigating snotty, uneven swell. It’s a tense situation all the way until you touch dry land. I have some peace of mind all the way in knowing that if I capsize I have a PFD and the proper clothing. One thing I give myself crap for not having is a radio clipped to my PFD.

Manowar's?
-Nah
Eels?
-Nah
Sting Rays?
Very rare. Shuffle on the launch and try to ride all the way in on the landing. If not have polarized glasses to look down before hopping off.

I got stung this year. But only because on the launch both my seat clips broke, so I had to get out to rotate the seat to my other set of clips. Got back in and then my drive pod popped out (shame on me for not checking it the night before) and had to hop out again. Fixed it, hopped back in for it to pop again (needed a spacer), didnt have my paddle put together so quickly put it together but 90 degrees off. Had to hop out a third time. All this in the middle of a surf set. So I’m holding onto the kayak trying to troubleshoot. Third time getting out I step on a stingray.

Point to this long story...if I had properly checked my equipment and had my paddle put together and lashed to the side in case of pedal drive failure on the launch I wouldnt have had to hop out three times, each time increasing my risk of stingray injury. Irony to this story is the trip before this disaster, I caught my PB Yellowtail. I’m usually good at checking my equipment but just got lazy.

Painful, yes. But you recover quickly by soaking it in hot water. I was able to walk 18 holes at Balboa golf course the next day. Still swollen and sore for a week.

Sharks?
-In the back of my mind, but I’m also in a 12.5’ kayak. So not really swimming with them. But I dont fish with my feet off the side.

Whales?
-I’ve been in a big bait ball when they have shown up. I pull up all my gear and pedal away fast. If they accidentally hit me, I’m toast. And if there’s a calf you could be in for a bad day if mom thinks you’re threatening.

Seals?
-Good sign its a fishy spot.

Hypothermia?
-In the winter dont mess with this. I used to wear waders with booties always with a wader belt. Topped with a paddle jacket and PFD. My only critique on waders are if you dont wear the belt to keep it water tight and the challenge with pissing. I switched to paddle pants that have gaskets at the waist and ankles.

If you fall off, I’d guess it would take 5-7 min to get back in for myself if there’s a little swell. If its capsized, 10-15 min. Without proper gear hypothermia might have you shaking so bad you dont have the dexterity to haul yourself in.

Weather? See capsize.

Bigger Boaters?
-Keep your head on a swivel. Consider a small air horn in a pocket on your seat. If you watch a guy headed your way and he’s not at least looking in your direction that might help. ALWAYS watch the wake roll in even if it interrupts fishing. Position bow or stern into it. Grab onto the seat rail to help you stay steady in the kayak.

Piracy?
-Seals stealing my bait. But that’s a catch 22. Also means the area is fishy. So I’ve learned to embrace those sea dawgs.

1. Spend $ on equipment that will save your life.
2. Use said equipment properly
3. Be comfortable with righting a capsized kayak and getting back in
4. Always check the weather. Establish personal limits.
5. When you screw up 3 and 4, 1 and 2 will save your life.

[BenCantrell]

For me boats weren't too bad in San Diego / La Jolla, but the one time I launched from San Pedro I got caught in heavy fog on the route between Long Beach and Catalina. Several times I had to quickly paddle out of the way of an approaching boat where I couldn't see the operator.

Wind conditions that weren't in the forecast are my biggest fear.

Florida has me more concerned about sharks. I like the idea of the Stealth Fusion 480, but it would put my thighs even closer to the water than my Trident.

[PapaDave]

For me, weather. Despite forecasts of decent wind/waves, it can be very different in real life.

Last Sunday a guest and I hit Dana Point, forecast indicated it would be cloudy with a light wind. I wish, the wind was blowing fairly decent and it was raining. We went out anyway, got about a mile down the coastline, was actually catching some bass for a change, when I looked out to the west and saw a wall of whitecaps heading towards us. We turned tail and hauled butt towards the harbor, that little Bixby cranked all the way up. About halfway back the wall hit, wind waves were about four feet and several crashed over the front and side. We were in a PA17 and were getting tossed around like a cork. Was a bit on the concerned side, but we made it to the harbor and drifted around there for a while.

I've seen GW's many times out there, they seem to come around to check me out. They don't bother me, I guess 17 feet of plastic isn't part of their preferred diet. I keep an eye open for boats all the time, and whales, had one come up unseen about fifty feet to the right and blow, jumped about two feet out of the seat.